Think Entertainment's group TAN, formed by the demanding survival show Extreme Debut: Wild Idol, made their debut on March 10, 2022 at long last with title track "DU DU DU." Wild Idol stood out as a competition that prioritized general athleticism alongside skill in dance, vocal, and rap—with vocalist beefcake Sunghyuk winning a round with 110 push-ups and rapper Jiseong's writing earning much-deserved praise from Tiger JK, for instance. They each have unique charms and skills that make them a strong group at their core. Wild Idol had its own set of tall hurdles, but it's much different to watch these guys breakdance in the rain on a mountaintop than it is to see them fully made up and performing together as a group in a relatively normal setting. TAN—an acronym for "To All Nations"—represents their desire to take their music beyond just South Korea, which seems an easy enough pursuit given the number of international FANs (their official fandom name) supporting them since before debut.

TITLE TRACK: “DU DU DU”

"DU DU DU" opens with an attention-grabbing acapella line before dropping in with lead vocalist Jooan at the center, the beat forming a solid foundation. In order, he's followed by main dancer (and obvious visual) Jaejun, Jiseong, leader Changsun, dancer Taehoon, and vocalists Sunghyuk and Hyunyeop. Overall, from what I can tell, "DU DU DU" bears some resemblance in composition to styles made popular among second gen K-Pop groups, and it's refreshing to say the least. My only real critique is that everyone else pretty much takes a backseat to Jooan and his dazzling tone—and he is immaculate, don't get me wrong—but as a pre-debut FAN, I looked forward to seeing more of the others.

The music video works because the song is solid, but on its own there's absolutely no connection between the sets or costuming. The chorus has them all in individually-styled suits against a black-and-red backdrop which complements Jaejun's framing in red light, but then it cuts to Jiseong in a trenchcoat, swinging an umbrella where he stands among a display of foliage, and there is no cohesion from one cut to the next. Changsun embodies that second gen statement as the one with eyeliner in a clawfoot tub, shrouded in cool lighting. It's a weird video in this respect, not to mention they're skilled live-performers who are a little new to acting—seriously, their suit dance performance video is chef’s kiss—but it's all held together by their stunning visuals and a song that knocks.

Edited by Rashelle B.